Containment Class:
esoteric
Secondary Class:
thaumiel
| Assigned Site |
Site Director |
Research Head |
Assigned Task Force |
| Site-64 |
Edgar Holman |
Dr. Ron Elkon |
N/A |
Special Containment Procedures
SCP-XXXX is to be kept in a conventional erhu case which in turn is to be contained in a soundproof room at Site-64. SCP-XXXX's room is to be secured with a keycard scanner that can be unlocked by any SCP foundation personnel. This allows easy access for any personnel who wish to use it, whether for psychological therapy, calming hostile sapient SCP’s, resolving conflicts, or simple musical enjoyment. A sign-up sheet to reserve times to use SCP-XXXX is attached below.
Today's date: 30 Jul 2021 22:57
| Time* |
Staff ID |
Reason** |
| 8:00-8:30 |
|
|
| 8:30-9:00 |
64-092 |
Had an argument |
| 9:30-10:00 |
|
|
| 10:00-10:30 |
64-110 |
Lost a friend |
| 10:30-11:00 |
64-004 |
|
| 11:00-11:30 |
64-062 |
Therapy session with SCP-5027 |
| 11:30-12:00 |
64-062 |
Therapy session with SCP-5027 |
| 12:00-12:30 |
|
|
| 12:30-13:00 |
64-103 |
Like music :) |
| 13:00-13:30 |
|
|
| 13:30-14:00 |
64-029 |
|
| 14:00-14:30 |
|
|
| 14:30-15:00 |
|
|
| 15:00-15:30 |
64-011 |
Conflict with supervisor |
| 15:30-16:00 |
|
|
| 16:00-16:30 |
64-035 |
Lost a loved one |
| 16:30-17:00 |
64-099 |
|
| 17:00-17:30 |
|
|
| 17:30-18:00 |
64-068 |
Stressed |
| 18:00-18:30 |
|
|
| 18:30-19:00 |
64-103 |
|
| 19:00-19:30 |
|
|
| 19:30-20:00 |
64-056 |
Feeling lonely |
* Maximum allowed time is 30 minutes, although this can be extended for research experiments.
** Reason can be left blank if it is personal.
Description
Physical Appearance: SCP-XXXX resembles an erhu (ER-hoo), a two-stringed bowed instrument originating from the Kumo Xi and Tang Dynasty China (618-907 CE). Its soundbox is composed of a reddish-hued wood, its bow of what appears to be animal hair, and its strings of beryllium bronze.
Recorded audio file of SCP-XXXX
Empathon readings of SCP-XXXX after recently being played. Each color represents a different human emotion.
Anomalous Properties: SCP-XXXX is an emotokinetic musical instrument that when played causes anyone within hearing distance (typically 25-30 meters) to feel every emotion of the player. This includes obtaining knowledge of any past events that led to the player’s current emotional state. The range of SCP-XXXX's effects can both be increased via sound amplification devices and decreased with the use of soundproof walls. However, recorded audio files of SCP-XXXX do not retain any anomalous properties.
SCP-XXXX's emotokinetic properties are created by an anomalous subatomic particle that has been named the empathon. It is theorized to be the fundamental subatomic particle that comprises the psychospace. For details, please see Incident Report I-XXXX-01.
A person playing SCP-XXXX does not need to know how to play the erhu; simply attempting to play SCP-XXXX endows the player with professional-level skills, although this effect only lasts for as long as the player is in contact with SCP-XXXX. Experimentation has shown that subjects who play SCP-XXXX retain the ability to play the erhu for about 8.2 seconds after loss of contact, although this time increases with increased exposure to SCP-XXXX.
Discovery
SCP-XXXX was hand-delivered to Site-64 on 2020/06/28 by a hospitable humanoid entity calling itself Xíng Tiān (刑天). This entity has been classified as SCP-XXXX-1. The events that transpired when SCP-XXXX-1 delivered SCP-XXXX to Site-64 are logged below.
2020/06/28
Incident Report I-XXXX-00
SCP-XXXX Discovery
SCP-XXXX-1 was first spotted approximately 90 meters from Site-64 at 22:16. It was issued a verbal warning from Officer Davis at 22:18 when it was 50 meters from the Site.
Transcript
<Begin Log>
Officer Davis: Attention! You are entering a restricted government site. Continued intrusion will be met with immediate termination. Please turn back now.
22:20: SCP-XXXX-1 does not respond and is soon 30 meters from Site-64. It is now apparent that SCP-XXXX-1 is a headless humanoid entity with a large face on its torso. It is holding an axe and what seems to be a pointed shield. It also has a parcel strung around its back. Security guards momentarily panic from seeing SCP-XXXX-1 in detail.
Guard 1: What is that, the Headless Horseman?!
Guard 2: How should I know? Just shoot it!
22:21: Site-64 guards begin firing on SCP-XXXX-1. While the bullets seem to do physical damage, SCP-XXXX-1 continues walking toward Site-64 without slowing, and any wounds from the bullets heal in seconds.
SCP-XXXX-1: Please stop! I mean no harm. I need to give this to you!
Officer Davis orders guards to stop shooting.
Officer Davis: Did you not hear the warning?!
SCP-XXXX-1: I'm sorry, I don't have ears, I can't hear what you're saying! I'll take it from the shooting that you don't want me here. Truly sorry about trespassing, but I need to give this to you! Could you maybe write down what you want to say so I can read it?
22:23: Officer Davis and guards debate whether to trust SCP-XXXX-1.
22:25: Officer Davis hand-gestures at SCP-XXXX-1 to wait.
SCP-XXXX-1: Oh, you're asking me to wait?
Officer Davis gives a thumbs up
SCP-XXXX-1: Understood! Take your time!
22:48: Researcher Dr. Elkon, four guards, and two D-Class carrying a large television screen come out of Site-64 and stop in front of SCP-XXXX-1. The D-Class place the screen in front of SCP-XXXX-1, while Dr. Elkon connects the screen to a microphone.
Dr. Elkon: Can you understand this?
"Can you understand this?" displays on the screen.
SCP-XXXX-1: Yes, I can understand you! Finally!
Dr. Elkon: You wanted to give us something?
SCP-XXXX-1: Ah, yes! This is the SCP Foundation, correct?
Dr. Elkon: …That is classified information…but yes.
SCP-XXXX-1: Great! I have something I believe should be right up your alley!
22:58: SCP-XXXX-1 begins to reach behind its back to retrieve SCP-XXXX. Officer Davis and all other guards immediately aim their guns at SCP-XXXX-1.
Officer Davis: No sudden movements! One wrong move and I don't care how many bullets it'll take, you'll be turned into pulp!
SCP-XXXX-1: Oh, understandable! <chuckles> Sorry for the alarm, but I'm impressed by your courage.
Dr. Elkon: This is all very sudden. Perhaps you should come inside and tell us more.
SCP-XXXX-1: Of course, of course! Lead the way.
22:59: SCP-XXXX-1 enters Site-64 and is taken to Interview Room ██.
<End log>
2020/06/28
Interview with SCP-XXXX-1
Interviewed: SCP-XXXX-1 (刑天)
Interviewer: Dr. Elkon
Location: Site-64
Transcript
<Begin Log>
Dr. Elkon: Please state your name for the record.
SCP-XXXX-1: Gladly! My name is 刑天, but I know that's hard to say in your native tongue. Just call me Xing, that's close enough.
Dr. Elkon: Very well. I'm Dr. Elkon. So, I understand you want to give us the item currently in your possession. Is that correct?
SCP-XXXX-1: Yep, that's right! Mind if I take it out now? Slowly, this time?
Dr. Elkon: Yes, but be aware that the guards can and will shoot if what you reveal is hostile in any way.
SCP-XXXX-1 takes off the satchel around its back and unwraps it to reveal SCP-XXXX.
SCP-XXXX-1: I imagine this isn't familiar to you, Doctor?
Dr. Elkon: No, I don't recognize it. Should I?
SCP-XXXX-1: Probably not, although this is a creation of your kind. This is a musical instrument called the erhu (二胡). I hear it's very common nowadays where I'm from.
Dr. Elkon: And where exactly is that?
SCP-XXXX-1: Oh, it's an archipelago around China, although I haven't been there for a few millennia now. Now that I think about it, your SCP Foundation's Chinese branch would probably know about me…
Dr. Elkon: You…know we have a Chinese branch?
SCP-XXXX-1: Yes, I've known about your SCP Foundation for a few decades now. An elite group of humans around the world persevering to protect humanity from the anomalous? That's practically my job description!
Dr. Elkon: Job description?
SCP-XXXX-1: Oh, you wouldn't know much about me, would you? Guess I got a bit ahead of myself there <scratches head stump>. I'm what you would call a god. More specifically, I'm the deified personification of human perseverance. Wherever humans try against all odds to do what they think is right, I'm there. That includes this foundation.
Dr. Elkon: I see…So what does this instrument have to do with all this? Why do you want to give this to us?
SCP-XXXX-1: Oh, it's quite simple really. You see, I've done my best to help humankind, to give you all the will to survive, but I can only do so much. <sigh> Someday, you will have to band together-pool together your perseverance-to survive.
Dr. Elkon: And you know this how?
SCP-XXXX-1: It's hard to explain, but the point is that you humans are social creatures, beings who survive by understanding and empathizing with one another, who together can accomplish feats impossible for an individual. It's the reason why this foundation can do what it does! Therefore, this erhu will help strengthen those human-to-human bonds that you will desperately need.
Dr. Elkon: But what does this do, exactly? How does it strengthen these human-to-human bonds?
SCP-XXXX-1: I'm sure your Foundation will figure it out <winks>. As for me, I should be going, I miss the comfort of the void. I believe you Foundation folks call it the psychospace. You 21st-century folks have such strange words nowadays.
Dr. Elkon: What? I'm sorry, but you are obviously an anomalous entity yourself, and you have classified information. Now that you're here, I cannot allow you to leave.
SCP-XXXX-1: Truly sorry, but I have to go. Please, remember why humanity can overthrow the gods.
SCP-XXXX-1 gets up from its chair. As the guard in the room raises her gun, SCP-XXXX-1 evaporates in smoke, leaving behind SCP-XXXX.
<End log>
Collaboration with the SCP Foundation's Chinese Branch has revealed that SCP-XXXX-1 closely resembles the mythical headless god of perseverance Xíng Tiān (刑天). Please see SCP-XXXX-1 Research Report for details.
2020/06/29
SCP-XXXX-1 Research Report
Compiled by: Dr. 李竑瑞
Fig. 1: Historical depictions of SCP-XXXX-1.
Introduction: Cross-referencing SCP-XXXX-1's physical characteristics and mannerisms with the Chinese Branch's mythological database suggests that SCP-XXXX-1 resembles the headless god of perseverance Xíng Tiān (刑天).
Historical References: The Book of Mountains and Seas (山海经) is an ancient encyclopedia of anomalous entities who lived in archipelagos and mountains in and around ancient China. According to this source's entry on Xíng Tiān (刑天), Xíng Tiān was a nameless giant whose head was severed in a duel with the Yellow Emperor (黄帝). Despite being decapitated, Xíng Tiān did not accept defeat and refused to die. Continuing the duel, Xíng Tiān first searched for its head, but when the Yellow Emperor buried it, Xíng Tiān simply grew a new set of eyes and mouth from its torso out of sheer perseverance. This death-defying perseverance gave Xíng Tiān its name, which translates to "Punishment from Heaven," as well as the title "Headless General" (断头将军).
Historical depictions of Xíng Tiān date back to a glyph from the Shang dynasty (1600 BCE-1046 BCE), and there have been multiple modern-day depictions of Xíng Tiān in video games and other media. See Figure 1 for historical depictions of Xíng Tiān.
Human Impact: It is unknown if human depictions of Xíng Tiān over the past millennia have had any effect on SCP-XXXX-1. Judging from Dr. Elkon's interview with SCP-XXXX-1, one can hypothesize that these depictions as well as any instances of human perseverance may be beneficial to SCP-XXXX-1, similar to how SCP-5721-1 subsists on the Elan Vital Energy particles siphoned from users of SCP-5721 (Discord).
Conclusion: SCP-XXXX-1 is most likely hospitable due to its physical and psychological similarity to Xíng Tiān. Its gift, SCP-XXXX, could therefore become a helpful tool for the Foundation, as SCP-XXXX-1 stated. It is unknown how human actions affect SCP-XXXX-1's well-being, and future studies on SCP-XXXX will hopefully shed light on this.
SCP-XXXX-1 has not been seen since it delivered SCP-XXXX to Site-64, and it is assumed it is in the psychospace as it stated during its interview with Elkon. SCP-XXXX-1 was seen on 2020/09/12 in a dream (see Dream Report 66-Y XXXX.1 for details).
Since 2020/09/12, all attempts to find SCP-XXXX-1 in the psychospace have failed, and one hypothesis is that SCP-XXXX-1, as the personification of human perseverance, has "diluted" itself across the shared human subconscious, spreading itself out so thin that it no longer a discrete entity.
Experimentation
Discovery of Empathons: Not long after obtaining SCP-XXXX, a chance encounter with Dr. Williams, the head of research into SCP-5027, revealed that SCP-XXXX emits an anomalous subatomic particle whenever it is played. Please see Incident Report I-XXXX-01 for details.
2020/07/01
Incident Report I-XXXX-01
At 17:07, Dr. Williams retrieved a handheld anomalous particle detector from Storage Room ██ in preparation for a quantum particle experiment with SCP-5027. On his way to SCP-5027's containment cell, Dr. Williams passed by Site-64 B Wing.
Meanwhile, in Site-64 B Wing, Dr. Elkon began an experiment with SCP-XXXX. Just as Dr. Williams walked past B Wing, the particle detector activated. The ensuing conversation between the two researchers is transcribed below.
Transcript
<Begin Log>
Dr. Williams: Huh? I don't remember turning this thing on…
Dr. Williams attempts to find the source of the particles by walking around B Wing with the detector. He soon finds that the detector beeps quickest in front of the door to the room containing SCP-XXXX.
17:19: Dr. Williams opens the door and walks in. Dr. Elkon hears Dr. Williams come in and turns around.
Dr. Elkon: Oh, Dr. Williams! A surprise, for sure. Haven't seen you much since you took charge of SCP-5027. What brings you here?
Dr. Williams: Hello, Dr. Elkon. I was passing by when this particle detector suddenly started beeping. It seems to be picking up on something here.
Dr. Elkon: I see. Hmm…I have an idea.
Dr. Elkon (into microphone): D-3547, please stop playing SCP-XXXX!
D-3547 stops playing; the anomalous particle detector stops beeping.
Dr. Elkon: Start playing again.
D-3547 begins playing SCP-XXXX; the anomalous particle detector begins beeping.
Dr. Elkon: Dr. Williams, I believe we've stumbled upon a breakthrough.
<End Log>
The Standard Model of elementary particles
Research into the anomalous particles emanating from SCP-XXXX has shown that they do not match any of the elementary subatomic particles from the Standard Model of particle physics.
While mapping the psychospace has been a slow endeavor, it is currently plausible that much like the physical universe, the psychospace has fundamental principles that control its behavior. Human emotion is a major factor in the psychospace, if not a fundamental principle itself. Therefore, it is theorized that similar to how fundamental principles in the physical universe are represented by discrete elementary particles, the fundamental properties of emotion in the psychospace are represented by a particle similar if not identical to those emitted by SCP-XXXX.
Because of this theory and how the particle affects sapient entities, SCP-XXXX's anomalous particle has been named the empathon, and it is currently understood to be the elementary subatomic particle responsible for emotion in the psychospace. It has been hypothesized that SCP-XXXX takes the emotions of the player and excites the psychospace accordingly, resulting in the creation of empathons. Tests 1-6 examine the range of emotions that can be transmitted through the empathons generated by someone playing SCP-XXXX.
2020/07/15
SCP-XXXX TESTS
Range of Emotions Transmittable via Empathons
Foreword: Since little is currently understood about empathons and their connection with the psychospace, a series of tests have been performed to discover and catalog the range of emotions that can be conveyed by the empathons generated from playing SCP-XXXX.
Because of his background in quantum physics and subatomic particles, as well as his contribution in discovering empathons in the first place, Dr. Williams has been brought on to assist with directing testing of SCP-XXXX. - Dr. Elkon
2020/07/16
TEST 1
Ability of SCP-XXXX to Transmit Pleasure
Test 1: Based on the idea that empathons are connected with human emotion, D-8253 was fed a gourmet three-course meal with vintage red wine. D-8253 was then instructed to play SCP-XXXX.
Results: D-8253 playing SCP-XXXX under these conditions resulted in the generated empathons transmitting feelings of pleasure and contentment (as well as slight lethargy) in those exposed.
2020/07/17
TEST 2
Ability of SCP-XXXX to Transmit Grief
Test 2: D-8253 was instructed to play SCP-XXXX. After thirty seconds, D-8253 was then (falsely) told that his long-time cellmate and friend D-8254 had just been found dead. After a moment, D-8253 was then instructed to continue playing SCP-XXXX.
Results: D-8253 playing SCP-XXXX under these conditions resulted in the generated empathons transmitting feelings of sadness and loss in those exposed. The generated empathons also transmitted D-8253's fondest memories of D-8254.
Let's make sure we have at least three boxes of tissues next time, Dr. Williams. My notebook from this experiment is so wet with tears I can barely read it! - Dr. Elkon.
Agreed. I did not expect that the empathons would be able to inflict grief to such an extent in those exposed. This could be an interesting property of empathons to investigate. - Dr. Williams
2020/07/20
TEST 3
Ability of SCP-XXXX to Transmit Fear
Test 3: Earlier psychological evaluation of D-8253 indicated that he was afraid of wild animals. D-8253 was instructed to begin playing SCP-XXXX. Thirty seconds later, a pack of wild wolves was released into the room. Although the wolves were leashed, the leashes were long enough to allow the wolves to come within 0.5m of D-8253.
Results: SCP-XXXX generated empathons transmitting feelings of panic and horror in those exposed. Exposed personnel also developed a temporary fear of wild animals consistent with that of D-8253, as the empathons also transmitted the memories of D-8253 that resulted in his fear of wild animals.
While I know that D-8253 was never in any actual danger, I can't help but feel that we're putting D-8253 through a lot of emotional turmoil. Perhaps we should experiment with more stable emotions, or at least ones that don't require wild animals. - Dr. Elkon
It is regrettable that D-8253 was essentially subjected to his worst fears soon after believing he lost a friend. I fear that D-8253 may become emotionally numb, making the resulting empathons harder to detect. To remove this bias, I would switch to a new D-class for each future test. However, on the bright side I believe that this test has shown just how effective empathons can be; I've already had two nightmares about wolves since the test's conclusion. This ability of empathons could prove useful to the Foundation. - Dr. Williams
Request for new D-class approved. - Dir. Holman
2020/07/23
TEST 4
Ability of SCP-XXXX to Transmit Physical Pain
Test 4: D-2934 was instructed to begin playing SCP-XXXX. After thirty seconds, a series of hidden needles and darts were aimed and shot at D-2934's arms and legs. D-2934 stopped playing SCP-XXXX once shot, but was forced to continue playing under threat of termination by Dr. Willliams.
Results: SCP-XXXX generated empathons transmitting intense pain and rage in those exposed. Interestingly, the pain felt by personnel exposed to SCP-XXXX was emotional pain rather than physical pain.
From the anomalous particle detector data, it also seems that D-2934 playing SCP-XXXX caused the creation of an unknown tetra-empathon (a composite group of four empathons). There were not enough of these tetra-empathons to identify any details or properties.
Dr. Williams, you told me that we would be experimenting with emotions of excitement, not pain. While I understand that the ability to incur emotions of pain is useful to the Foundation, I do not like where these tests are going. I suggest that we change the direction of these tests to investigate emotions related to human-human interactions such as trust, which could help increase Foundation camaraderie and morale. - Dr. Elkon
Despite the short-term human costs, I believe that many of the threats the Foundation currently faces could be potentially incapacitated by SCP-XXXX. However, this can only be proven if we continue testing painful emotions that can neutralize sentient beings. Developing compassion or emotional sentiment towards anomalies is dangerous and at times even fatal, Dr. Elkon, as my past SCP-5027 research assistant Dr. Joy could attest to…if she were still alive. - Dr. Williams
I have contacted the O5 Council about this matter. - Dir. Holman
Controllable emotokinetic anomalies such as SCP-XXXX are rare. Therefore, its weaponizability is extremely valuable. Please direct testing of SCP-XXXX towards more painful emotions capable of neutralizing threats to the Foundation. - O5-██
2020/07/26
TEST 5
Ability of SCP-XXXX to Transmit Aggression
Test 6: Five-year-long cellmates D-29282 and D-11245 were put in a room with hidden speakers connected to a microphone from a separate room. In this separate room, D-19394, a D-class with a record of unprovoked aggression, was given SCP-XXXX and instructed to play it. All attending researchers were given soundproof headphones to avoid empathon exposure.
Results: Usual amicability and trust between D-29282 and D-11245 deteriorated, and they began physically fighting after 5.8 seconds of being exposed to SCP-XXXX. The two verbally expressed extreme hatred for each other while fighting until D-29282 knocked D-11245 unconscious and strangled him to death. The tetra-empathons from the previous test were also detected, this time in an abundance outnumbering the number of singular empathons.
Since the tetra-empathons are likely responsible for most of the hatred experienced by D-29282 and D-11245, the tetra-empathon has been classified as the Hatred Empathon Composite (HEC). It is currently believed to cause hatred in those exposed.
The discovery of HEC's and its ability to instill hate even between close companions shows promising signs of SCP-XXXX weaponization. Tests with larger groups of D-class personnel should be able to shed light on the upper limits of HEC's. - Dr. Williams
Dr. Williams, since the previous test I have seen you guide experimentation to increasingly dark extremes. SCP-XXXX-1 stated that SCP-XXXX's main ability was to enhance human understanding, to allow humans to band together and accomplish feats impossible for an individual. Sure, using HEC's to neutralize threats to the Foundation could be effective, but why not instead see if it's possible to turn the Foundation's enemies into allies using SCP-XXXX? The path we're on now will only make humans weaker as a whole.
Dr. Elkon, these wishful ideals of cooperation are EXACTLY what could weaken the Foundation. The Foundation has ONLY survived today because it is grounded in REALITY. It does NOT MATTER if SCP-XXXX has a brighter side. The only way this Foundation will succeed in protecting humanity is by knowing that it must do so by ANY MEANS NECESSARY. Those against the Foundation are actively trying to destroy what we've SACRIFICED LIVES to protect. If you are against using SCP-XXXX to PROTECT the Foundation, then you are AGAINST the Foundation. - Dr. Williams.
Dr. Elkon, your lack of resolve to protect the Foundation is disappointing. You are demoted, effective immediately, and banned from participating in SCP-XXXX testing. From now on, Dr. Williams will lead SCP-XXXX experimentation with oversight from O5-█. Any actions against these orders will result in IMMEDIATE TERMINATION - O5-█
O5-Approved Testing
Per 
